Automatic baler tension



Jan. 10, 1950 G. 1 BURKE-Vr I 2,494,033

AUTOMATIC BALER TENSION Filed Oct. 10, 1945 f7 if ff 2d 2 j? ArrE/YEXS.

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES A"PATENT FFICE AUTOMATIC BALER; TENSION Griffith L. Burkett, Martinsville, Ina. Application October 10, 1945, Serial No. 621,484 15 claims. (C1. 10o- 23) In the art, the term tension" value is variable by manually controlled means,

the obstructing means will be shifted to permit the passage of such material. The invention also contemplates the provision of means for presetting the degree of projection of the obstructing means into the baling chamber, and means for predetermining the point in its path of movement at which the obstructing means will be relieved. Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. v To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated and described in the accompanying drawings, attention being vcalled. `to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, 'and that change may bepmade in the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated. e, A f

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fragment of a baling machine with which my automatic tension has been associated, parts being broken away for clarity of illustration; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such mechanism, parts being shown in section; Y

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan of la por tion of my mechanism.

I have shown a baling chamber ofmsubstantially standard construction, indicated generally by the reference numeral I0, 'and associated with that chamber in accordance with standard practice, I have shown a baling plunger II adapted to be reciprocated in the baling chamber through the medium of a pitman I2 connected to a bull wheel (not shown).

Arranged outside the baling chamber and, in the illustrated embodiment, adjacent the two lateral sides of the chamber, I propose to mount two rock shafts I3 and I4, each of which projects both above and below the baling chamber Ill.

The upper ends of the shafts I3 and I4 are jourf nalled in the opposite ends of a transverse bar I5; whilethe lower ends of said shaft are journalled in a second transverse bar I6. The shaft I3 carries a cam I1, whose length is substantially equal to the depth of the baling chamber, said cam being so constructed and arranged that, as the shaft I3 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the degree of projection of the cam I'I` into the baling chamber I0 will be increased, while the degree of that projection will be reduced if the shaft I3- is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The shaft I4 carries a similar, but oppositely arranged, cam I8.l

A coiled spring I9 has one end anchored at 2U on the baling chamber, and has its opposite end anchored at 2I on the bar I5 to'resist resiliently movement of said bar toward the left hand, or discharge, end of the baling chamber I0. Y

Fixed to the upper end of the shaft I3 is an arm 22 which projects generally toward the shaft I4 and which is provided, near its outer free end, with an elongated slot 23. A similar arm 24, having an elongated slot 25 in its free end, is fixed to the upper end of the shaft I4 and projects generally toward the shaft I3. A yoke 26 embraces the overlapping ends of the arms 22 and 24, and a pin 21, carried by said yoke 26, projects through the slots 23 and 25. Said yoke 26 is carried at one end of a link 28 whose opposite end carries a yoke 29, straddling, and pivotally securedby means `of a pin 30 to, a lever 3l. Said lever 3| has one end pivotally amounted upon a pin 32 xed .to the baling chamber I0; and its opposite end swings within a guard 33 which may be provided with spaced l teeth forholding the lever 3IY inrvany desired position ofadjustment.

It will be clear that, as the lever 3I is swung in a clockwise direction, or 'toward the inlet end of the baling` chamber III, the arm 22 `and shaft I3 will be moved in a clockwise ydirection while the arm 24 and shaft I4 will be moved to a sub;

stantially equal degree in a counter-clockwise direction, whereby the degree of projection of ,the cams Il and I8 into the baling chamber I0 will be reduced. It will likewise be clear that bodily movement of the bar I5 to the left, or toward the discharge end of the baling chamber IILwill result in a similar swinging movement of the 'ims 22 and 24, shafts I3 and I4, and cams I'I and VFixed to ,the lowerend rof the. shaft I3 is an arm 34 which, in the illustratedv embodiment 3 of the invention, projects generally toward the discharge end of the baling chamber II). The lower end of the shaft I4 similarly carries a similar arm 35 which projects in the same general direction. The free end of the arm 35 carries a swivel nut 33 in which is threadedly engaged a threaded shaft 37. As is clearlyto be seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the opposite end of the shaft 37 is loosely engaged in an enlargement 38 of the arm`-34. 'Intermediate tits ends, and-z between thearms 34 and35, a 'nut 4'0 Iis-thr'eacle'dly adjustably mounted on the shaft 37, and a coiled spring 4I is sleeved on the said shaft and lis confined between said nut 4I) and thearm 34,V

whereby said spring resiliently tends to separate the varms 34 and 35. Otherwise rexpressed, -fit may be said that the springv 4I tends to hold the arm 34 in engagement withtthestop collar"49on that end of the shaft 3-'I which carrie'si-a .crank 39 ...A :coiled springv 42 Ahas Aone end y'anchored on -a bracket .43 carried .on .the .bottom vwallof ,thebaling. chamber. IIL-and hasitsoppositeend vanchored at 44 ron 4the ,bar 1.6, .said .spring .42..resiliently resisting .bodily :movement of .the .bar I6 ^toward the discharge .end .of .the baling chamber.

lt.,will .thus .be.seen.that, .because offthesprings [9..and 4.2, .bodilymovement of the shaftsv I3.and Mltowardtherdischarge fend of the balingchambei' Yis, resiliently .resisted .Stops -45 .and .45

bodily movement. Thereby, the degree of projection of the cams I 'I and I8 into the baling chammounted .on .the .baling 4chamber, 'positively .limit u bodily movement of --the .shaft .IIS toward thef'inletend-.ofLthe baling chamber; andsimilarstops [Land .llrspositively limit.bodilymovementof the shaft I4'toward the inlet end'of the baling chamber. .f

' .Obviously .theshaft 531 `is turned in fa' direc,- tion .toldrawj the free ends .of .the .armsf34 .and .3.5 tQWardaeaCh-other, .thedegree of projection ofthe cams` Hand .EB .into .the baling .chamber-.will be reduced. .At the-same -time, -the arml will'be swung .in a. clockwisedirection and .the/arm .24 will ,baswungJn-.a rcounter-.clockwise .direction .so that. if the leverl l is. heldstatnaly, -the .bar .I5 and the upper-.ends .of theshafts I3 andI.4 .will be shiftedtoward theleftas.viewed..injFig. l.

Alternatively, --the ,partsbeing .in .the .illustrated positions, if theshaft .'3Lis .turned .infthe opposite direction, .the shaft will V.be .bodily -.shif.ted :tothe right as viewed .in Eig.f3, against .the tendency of the [spring 1H, since counter-clockwise. rotation'of theshaft I3 and clockwise rotation..of.the .shaft ,I 4 would tend,..through .the Aactionloi .the .link 2.43, .to shi'ftltlrieV bar ltoward the right; aand said baris positively 'held against such 'fmovement .by `the stops 45...and41. f f f 7. 'The pants are .shown .in aposition of substantiallymaximurn proiectioneof.' the cams I'IandLIB- into the balingchamber. .As material is fediforward by meansof. theplunger .I I.,V its movement is resistedby ltheproiectionbf .said camsfinto v.the

baling chamber., ,and )it l:will .,be. .obvious .thatvthe degree of .thatgprojection determinesthadegree of resistance .and .therefore 1the.degree .of compressionfof .the material as; it Nmoves -past the ,cams If the force exerted by .the ,plunger .II exceeds that degreejor which the A.partsare set, .the cams willbe .bodily moved, bythe material, .against the resistance. of .the springs .I9 .and 4'2, `toward theleft. .The lever .3| .being..held againstxmove-v ment, such, bodily movement .of the .camswill result in .clockwisemovement .of lthe `:shaft .d'3 and counter-clockwise movement of `'the shaft I4, be-` causer the .free ends of ..the.levers,2f2 and @2.41am

held .by the Ylink 2 .against .participation insuch,

ber is reduced, and the degree of compression which .would otherwise arise in the bale is reduced substantially to the` desired value. The degree of movement of the bars I5 and I6 will depend upon the degree by which the force exerted by the plunger exceeds the value for which the parts are set, and will determine the degree of reduction tof cam Aprojection into .theinaling: chamber.

The poiiitfatiwhich bodilymovement ofthe bars I5 and I6 toward the discharge end of the chamber will become effective to reduce the degree of cam ,projection into the chamber will depend uponthe setting of the shaft 31 and the lever 3i If, awhen theishafts I3 and I4 are at rest against the .stops 45, 46, 4`i.and 48, the arm 34 is in engagementw'ith the stop collar 49, then the first incrementfufzmovement of the shafts away from said stops will begin Withdrawal of the cams from the balingtchamber. .Qn-.the.other-handiithe.lever 3| movedjn acounter-.clock-wise direction from its .illustrated position, while .the .settingof the shaft L31 Nremains .as shown, .the .bar 4.5 .and i the upperends .of .the..-,shafts V.I3 and :I4 .will thereby be Lshifted-to .the ileft,.-and ,the .spring Li 9 will ybe extended `toincrease its resistance .to furtherextension. I, -N.o.w,.fin order that van increase in the force .exerted upon thevmaterialmoving through the -baling chamber shall fresult vlin .retraction .0i the cams, the camsmustbe shifted bythe mateial'lbeyond .the new,positions.of the .upper ends of Zthe shafts I3.andII4,.1and in orderso to .move

40 liminarily .reduce the 5 said ,.chamber, means Y.resiliently .resisting ,such .movement .of .said obstructing .means,..means .for preliminarily/ad-justing the degree oi":projectionof`V u said ...obstructing A.fmeansginto :said,chamberI and.:

saidshafts, Ythe bar` I5 .must :be .moved .beyond its new ,position-.against .the .increased resistance of.thes pring`.|'9. Y

Alternatively, withoutreadj usting the ,-shaft31, the lever 3'I. may.he..mov.ed in a .clockwise .direc tion` 'from .its .illustrated position. This Lwill .pre-

.degree lof projection .of the camsl 1 ,and .I8 .into .the baling chamber, .and .increase the .angle .at l.which the .material in the baling chamber .engages .the-.cams Thereby, the resistance to1movement .of.material through the -baling chamber .o'iiered :by .the .cams fis :.reduced, and l,the bale .will .come through less tightly packed, as.a..result.of.this adjustment. u Y 'The .action ofthemech-anism is,.of.course, .automatic .once `the .partsv havebeenset-l .to a predeterm'ine'd relation; and .solongas .the parts..main- -tainthat relationship, :theiillustrated mechanism will act to maintain a substantially iconstant degree of ...compression Ywithin. allbalesof material producedjnfthe machine.

`I claim as .myinven'tionz `'1. "In a 'balen an elongated baiing chamber, rotary cam.. material-obstructing .means at each of'two opposite sides.of .said-chamber, saidiobstructingmeansbeing.movable inthe direction of material movement .throughsaid chamber, means resiliently resisting .such .movement .of said Yob-l structing means, and means -operatively .associatedwwith.saidpbstructingmeans.to .oscillate the -reduce .the obstructive .eee-t thereof: as .saidpbstructinggmeans ismoved in the direction 'of materialmovement.

l2. .ln a .balen .an .elongated .baling .ch-amber, material-.obstructing .means projecting Ainto said chamber 'at -each `of .,twoopposite sides :of .said chamber, said obstructing means `being.movable in .the .direction .of-.material ,movement ,through 5., means operatively associated with said obstructing means to reduce the degree of projection thereof into said chamber as said obstructing' means is moved in the direction of material movement.

In a baler, an elongated baling chamber,-

said chamber, means resiliently resisting such movement of said obstructing means, means for.

preliminarily adjusting thedegree of projection of said obstructing means into said chamber, means operatively associated with said obstructing means to reduce the degree of projection thereof into said chamber as said obstructing means is moved in the direction of material movement, and other means operatively associated with said obstructing means to vary the position of said obstructing means, longitudinally of said chamber, at which said last-named means becomes effective.

4. In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, material-obstructing means variably projectible into said chamber and movable in the direction of materialmovement through said chamber, means resiliently resisting such movement of said obstructing means, and ciated with said obstructing means to reduce the degree of projection thereof into said chamber as" said obstructing means is moved in the direc tion of material movement.

5. In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, a rock shaft traversing one outside said chamber and bodily movable in the lineof movement of material through said chamberfa cam carried by said shaft and projectible' into ysaid chamber to a greater or less extent by rocking movement of said shaft in one direction or the other, the length of said cam being sub-v stantially equal to the length of said side of said chamber, spring means resiliently resisting bodily movement of said shaft toward the discharge end of said chamber, means positively limiting bodily movement of said shaft toward the inlet end of said chamber, and means operatively connected with said shaft to produce rocking movement thereof, in a direction to reduce the degree of cam projection into said chamber, upon bodily movement of said shaft toward the outlet end of saidy chamber. l

' -6.y In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, a rock shaft traversing one side of said chamber outside said chamber and bodily movable longi-` tudinally of said chamber, a cam carried by'said shaft and projectible into said chamber to a greater or less extent said shaft'in one direction or the other, the length of said cam being substantially equal to the length of said side of said chamber, spring means resiliently resisting bodily movement of said shaft toward the discharge end of said cham-4 ber, means positively limiting bodily movement of said shaft toward the inlet end of said chamber, and means operatively connected with said shaft to produce rocking movement thereof, in a direction to reduce the degree of cam projection into said chamber, upon bodily movement of said shaft toward the outlet end of said chamber, said last-named means being movable to vary its operative effect upon said shaft.

7. In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, a rock shaft traversing one side of said chamber means operatively asso-r side of said chamber r by rocking movement ofA 6J said chamber, a cam carried by said shaft and projectible into said chamber to a greater or less extent by rocking movement of said shaft in Yone direction or the other, the length of saidl cam beingV substantially equal to the length of said side of said chamber, spring means resiliently resisting bodily movement of said shaft toward the discharge end of said chamber, means positively limiting bodily movement of said shaft toward the inlet end of said chamber, and screw means operatively associated with said shaft to vary its rotational position.

l8. In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, a rock shaft traversing one side of said chamber outside said chamber and movable in the Vline of material movement through said chambena cam carried by said shaft and projectible into said chamber to a greater or less extent by rocking movement of'said shaft 'in one direction` or the other,the length of said cam being substantially equal to the length of said side of said chamber, spring means resiliently resisting bodily movement of said shaft toward the discharge end of said chamber, means positively limiting bodily movementv of said shaft toward the inlet end of said chamber, a lever pivotally mounted on said chamber and swingable toward and away from theA inlet end of said chamber, and means operatively connecting said lever with sai-d shaft to produce rocking movement of said shaft, in-a direction to reduce the degree of cam projection into said chamber, upon bodily movement of said shaft toward the outlet end of said chamber. i

9. In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, a rock shaft traversing one side of said chamber outside said chamber for bodily movement inthe line of material movement'through said chamber, a cam carried by said shaft and projectible into said chamber to a greater or less extent by rocking movement of said shaft in one direction or the other, the length of said cam being substantially equal to the length of said side of said chamber, spring means resiliently resisting bodily movement of said shaft toward the discharge end of said chamber, means positively limiting bodily movement of said shaft toward the inlet end of said chamber, a lever pivotally mounted on said chamber and swingable toward and away from the inlet end of said chamber,

an arm fixed to said shaft, and a link pivotally connected to said lever and to said arm. f 10. In a baler, an elongated baling'chambei",` a rock shaft traversing one side of said chamber outside said chamber for transaxial movement u longitudinally of said chamber, a cam carried by chamber, a lever pivotally mounted on said chamber and swingable toward and away fromv the inlet end of said chamber, an arm fixed tor said shaft, a link pivotally connected to said lever and to said arm, a second arm fixed to said shaft, and screw means operatively associated with said second arm for affecting the vrotational position of said shaft.

11. In a baler, an elongated baling chamber, two rock shafts arranged adjacent opposite sides outside said chamber and movable lengthwise of II of said chamber and projecting beyond said 7 chamber .in both directions, said Ashafts 'fbeing bodly'lmovable `-tovvardl and .zaway `*fromV the foutlety er1-d Aoffsaid V"chamber, 'a bar foutsidesaidfchamber :providing va journal .mounting for-.one :end :of bdthfsaid Vshafts, :a 4second :bar :outside said chamber @providing VVa journal .mounting r'for :the .other end yof.' both `said shafts, la cam carriedsbyeach offfsaid shafts, lsaid cams being prcjectible `mrc said'phamber to -agreater or less extentxby rocking-movements of V'their shafts in one direction or-y the other, spring means resisting bodily movement of said shafts towardithe outlet-:endzo'f said chamber; means positively limitingy bodily-movementfo'f said 'shafts towardv :theinlet endzof said chamber, :and means operatively connected With said :shafts to .produce rocking movement of bgoth 'df said shafts, to substantially equal extents, lin vadi1-ection to reduce the ldegree ,of cam projection'fin'to said chamber, -upon 'bodily fmovementiof bei.

'12."In Ya vbaler, an elongated .baling chamber. two rock shafts arranged adjacentoppQsi-te' sides of rsaid Vchamber vand lprojecting beyond 'said chamber in both vdirections, said shafts #being I nal "mounting for lthe other end Yof both said i shafts'a cam 'carriedby each of said sha-ftsf-said cams `being 'projectible :into said chamber to :a greater or less extent by rocking movements :of other.: shafts in 'one `direction :or theother, `"spring 'means resisting bodily movement "of said shafts vtowardthe outlet end of :said- 'chamben :means Apositively.limiting bodily movement offsaid shafts :towardrthe inlet'end Yof said zchamb'er, v'and screwv :means operatively associated `,with said shafts :to varytheir rotational positions.

:13. In ya baler, an velongated `baling vvchamber, two Irock shafts arranged adjacent oppositesides 'of Jsaid chamber rand `projecting beyond said chamber in bothgdirectiona said shafts 'being bodily movable longitudinally of vsaid chambenra bar nutside lsaid chamber :providing a journal mounting for one endrof vbothsaid shaftsgarsecond bar outside said chamber `providing ajournal fmounting fer the other endof both said shafts,ra cam carried ,byeach of saidshaftsfsaid Y cams being VVprojectible into. said :chamber 'to sa greater or lessv extent by rocking ymovements of their shafts vin one direction or the fother, spring vmeans resisting bodily movement vof said :shafts "toward fthe outletrend of :said chamberfmeans positively limiting :bodily movement of: saidg'shafts :toward the :inlet end of :said chamber, .aflever pivotallymounted on .said Achamber -to swing @toward fand away from the inlet end thereof, and .means operatively connecting said lever with :both vof .'said shafts to 'produce opposite and 'substantially `equal `rocking movements of said ;re- 4spective 'shafts, in a AL,direction :toc'reduce ',carn projection into said uchamber, upon bodily'inovement of one of said bars toward the outlet end oisaidichamber.

14.IIn a .balen an elongated baling chamber, tworock shafts arranged adjacent Qppositesides of said 'chamber vand g projecting beyond :said' .theiin'let endof rsaid chamber,l an 'arm i for each of .said shafts, veach -arm being fixed to-itsown shaftand projecting generally toward the/other shaft, mean-s adaptedito assume any voneiof VIaandurality of Xed positions with respect rto .said chamber, and fmeansfconnecting rsaid last-named `means to ',bothfofsaid arms to produce rocking movementof both of said shafts, to vsubstantially equal extents, in a direction to reduce'zthefdegree of fcam `:projection into -said chamber, upon bodily movement of rsaid -shafts toward the "outletend a ofgsaid chamber.

15. In a balen .an elongated baling -.chamber, two rock shafts arranged-adjacent oppositesides of -said chamber and projecting Abeyond .-,said chamber in Aboth directions, said yshafts fbeing bodily movable 4longitudinally 'of said chamber, a bar outside 'said .chamber providing a -journal mounting for one end :of .both .said shafts, fa second bar :outside said chamber .providingra journal mounting r'for thebther .endof both said shafts,

aA cam carried .by'each vof said shafts,Y said :cams beinggprojectible into said chamber vtovawgreater or Tless extent by rocking,movements r.of .their shafts .in onedirectionor the other, spring means resisting bodily movement -.of .said shafts .toward the 'outlet end -of said chamber, means positively limiting bodily `movement of said shafts 4toward thee-inlet -endof said chamber, means operatively associated with said shafts vto producerocking movement Aof bothrofsaid shaft-s to-substantially equal extents, in a direction to reduce the .degree of .cam projection into` saidchamber, upon ,bodily movement'o'f said .shafts toward vthe outlet vvend of said chamber, an arm xed to one of said shafts, an `arm fixed to the other of saidshafts,

said .arm-s projecting from their shafts ,in the same general direction, a threaded shaft. threadedly y,engaged with one of said arms and loosely engaging the other of said arms, anutthreadedly g mounted `on said threaded shaft between .said

' arms, .-and a Vcoiledspring sleeved on said shaft,"

abutting saidnut, and abutting said other to .urge saidarms resilientlyapart.

. GRIFFITH L. BURKETT.

'mirulmNousY CITED le vof this lpatent:

l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date .1,333,068 -Evans et .al Mar. J9., l11920 .2,389,510 Hitchcock Nov. 20, .19.45 

